New Hyperemesis Support thread founded by the lovely LucindaE

[grumblinalong]

As the old thread is nearly full here it is time a brand new thread is born. All we need now is a new vomit face emoticon MN towers!

We are a bunch of past, present and future HG sufferers (along with worried spouses, family and friends) who use this thread to support, listen and discuss the dreaded pregnancy illness that is HG (hyperemesis gravidarum).

There are no limits on how much moaning posters can do nor can anyone's symptoms or experiences be tmi.

The old thread has been a great support to many of us and we hope this new thread carries on the great work started by old thread founder and HG guru LucindaE. She still maintains, supports and clucks around the thread daily even though her own experience of HG is thankfully over.

So with no further incoherent rambling from me on with the new thread eh?

Marylou poor you feeling so awful. So sorry it looks like it's starting again. Get thee to the Doctors for the meds and then get to bed. If you are ill you are ill, don't feel guilty. It's not your fault they are short staffed. We've all been there with having to tell family and work sooner than we want and it sucks. I am not going to say it might be better this time because noone can tell. Is your LO at nursery at all? Sending extra anti-vom vibes.

Now back at home, all the bad memories of being stuck in one place all day are coming flooding back... Have booked into the doctors this evening, unfortunately I can't see the same one as I saw the other day, but basically I'm going to refuse to leave the room until I get a prescription, I will turn on the waterworks if I have to.

No, my LO isn't at nursery. I have him three days a week and his grandparents look after him on the two days that I work. He's really active - so much that we just have to get out of the house to toddler groups etc in the mornings or he's a nightmare. I'm wondering how I'm going to cope with him. All I can hope is that the medicine (which I WILL get hold of) works. How has everyone else managed with other DCs?

Something permanent will have to be done about the contraception after this pregnancy, I can't do it again. I can't take anything hormonal after the last pregnancy as it makes me throw up and I don't trust anything else to work now.

MaryLou I cleverly deleted part of my message earlier, it sounded shrugging off without the other bit 'sending you sympathy and cyber hugs, do go home, good luck at the docors' so am coming back to type it in. I am always amazed at how people cope with toddlers, and I am so hoping you find something.
LucindaE
xx

Waves at everyone, marks place will hopefully be back later after taking ds for his 3rd set of jabs.

Hi all, so sorry to hear the HG has started Marylou it's interesting you say you can't take regular contraceptives anymore. I've always struggled with the pill so had to rely on other methods and also had one memorable night when I had a nasty vom reaction to the morning after pill. Hormones, or the excess of them, definitely seems to be my trigger and sounds like a common theme.

Luncinda glad your back on the internet. I'd be lost without it now - how did we cope without it?

Nitnat I agree about the habit forming body reaction as well. Although I seem to have turned the HG corner (fingers firmly crossed) every evening at my 'regular' time the nausea starts. There's no reason for it so a lay down and some deep breathing helps it pass. Of course the only way to really feel better, still, is just to go to sleep and try and stay unconscious for as long as possible :).

Hope everyone is having as good a week as possible.

Marylou Luckily mine started school in Sept. DH basically looked after us both from Dec-end of Feb. I have just started cooking and picking him up from school again. Sorry to be the voice of doom. I could not have coped with a toddler at home, but then agagain I didn't have to . I know Grumblin and La have had DC's at home whilst suffering.

Could you get your parents to do an extra day for the next couple of months while the (hopefully) worst passes?

Any friends/in laws who could step in and do a day - could you afford to pay for some kind of nursery/daycare? At least it's for a fixed length of time IYSWIM rather than an ongoing financial commitment.

I have same throwing up problem with contraceptives. We had a convo about it on here a few weeks back and most of us seem to have problems with taking hormones! Have made DH use condoms for 5 years as not going back on pill and have told him he will be responsible for contraception after this one is born. Am trying to persuade him to have the snip but he's against it - doesn't like the thought of the op. I reminded him that I had my vagina cut with a pair of scissors in order to get DS out but it didn't seem to work the desired magic on his attitude.

Have only got a sec but wanted to post for Marylou. Sorry to hear you're feeling so bad. I have been in your shoes at the doctors and here's what I did, which I think meant I got the early intervention I needed.

• I took DH for moral support and to back me up and take over if I vomitted.
• I took DS (20mths at the time) at his normal witching hour (6:30pm) with no toys or food for distraction. Part of the argument of why I needed medication and to be taken seriously was that it wasn't possible to look after a very active toddler from hospital, or at home if I spent most of the day with my head down the loo.
• I took some printouts. From the HELPHER site this page. About halfway down there is a bit about early intervention and aggressive treatment for those who have suffered previously. Also mentions referral for other remedies, such as acupuncture, so that'll remind you to ask if they offer it on the NHS where you are. Also there are a few studies on BMJ website you could also take. I think even if they don't want to read them it shows you've done your research and are not going to be fobbed off. I was also ready to ask if they were aware of the convention held in the UK last year to discuss HG and ready to point them to that website if they hadn't.
• I went with a strong argument if they tried to say they wanted me to try other medications first before the one I knew worked for me with DS, that were less expensive. Hospital admission and the cost of recurring ongoing problems from HG are more expensive on the NHS than medication.

I think the fact you're going in knowing what you want will help. I really hope it goes well.

MaryLou agree with everything Caramel has said, as regards looking after other children dd was 3 when I went through this last year so fortunately she was at preschool in the afternoon but we did have to rely on my parents and in-laws who would often collect her or have her to stay for a few days. She stayed at Nanny's a lot when I was in hospital. Luckily she often stays over so she was used to it but it's hard work explaining that you can't play because you are too ill :(

I also agree it's a real pain having to tell people a lot earlier than you want to. I had told one very close friend when I was about 4 weeks and some people guessed fairly early on as they knew how ill I had been with dd previously.

I was so impressed with all my friends and family who offered to collect dd from preschool and/or look after her - even the lovely lady across the road who I don't know all that well stopped my Mum one day to ask if I was OK and was there anything she could do to help and she has MS and is in a wheelchair.

Keep trying different meds or combinations as different things work for different people. Ariane ondansetron was an absolute lifesaver for me, I wasn't given the option in my first pregnancy and it seems to be that as it is very expensive it's often a last resort.
Aisling feel free to rant as much as you like :) At least you're on the home stretch now...

MOH100 I do think lots of people seem to think that hg sufferers are exaggerating, second time round the midwives in hospital got a counsellor to speak to me which was lovely because it acknowleged how depressing the situation is iyswim

Thinking we should get some badges made for hg sufferers to wear along the lines of "No ginger really doesn't make a difference thank you so much for pointing that out..." (Well that's the polite version.
I seriously could not believe that the consultant in the hospital suggested I try ginger tablets. Mind you this was the same one who said to one of the midwives when my ketones were still very high "well she can't stay in for the whole pregnancy can she"

And breathe deeply to release the anger.

Sends non vom vibes and virtual opal fruits/skittles to everyone else she has missed.

Fluffy - I'll have some those skittles. I was walking down the street with a bag in my handbag earlier, dipping in and out everytime I felt a bit icky!

I have really struggled with my toddler. Luckily DH is fab and she is well behaved (most of the time) He works a two weeks rota where he gets 7 days off so he is home alot but when he is working he works 12 hour shifts so on those days I struggle.

I tend to stick her at the table with saftey scissors and the argos book and some pva and let her do sticking, or she plays puzzles and reads books, watches peppa and upsy daisy far too much

She only goes to playschool one morning a week so I don't get much of a break, I'm just thankful she is already toilet trained and can occupy herself for the majority. That doesn't stop me feeling guilty for not taking her to the park or to feed the ducks or chasing her round.

Thanks for all your support, thanks for the links Caramel (unfortunately I don't have DS available but am taking DH and links with me). Thanks for the childcare ideas nitnat. I will suggest your reason for the snip to DH as I had to be snipped in childbirth too! It's ridiculous being allergic to your own hormones...

Coconuts your toddler sounds very placid! Mine is going to go nuts if confined to the house, I'm going to have to try to get someone to take him out to burn off energy

Just had a lie down but I'm too anxious to sleep, I suppose that's not helping, being nervous can give you a funny stomach on its own...

Hello everyone, I am in a very good mood today! Not really eaten for 3 days but had my growth scan today and baby is approx 6lb 5oz so a nice healthy size for 38 weeks even if I am measuring small! But the other bit of good news is that my consultant was off sick today (is it wrong that I hope she has a really bad stomach bug so she can have some idea of what I've felt like) so I saw the head consultant who was really lovely and sympathetic and has organised for me to me induced next Thursday so the end is in sight! I have my eye on the main prize tea toast and champagne. After 38 weeks I am so ready for this baby to be born and I can at least have a naturalish labour. Sorry to all of those of you feeling rough especially those of you with a long way to go. Stand firm and demand drugs and try acupuncture it didn't work for me but I know a lot of people it has done wonders for, I also think slot can be said for early treatments I didn't get anything until 24 weeks after losing 2 stone in that time!
Love Katy xxx

katy I'm so so pleased for you! The end is near! I bet you are so relieved. Please keep in touch on the thread this week and of course come back to give us a birth announcement. I'm really excited that your HG hell is on its last legs!

marylou My heart goes out to you. I hope the GP is sympathetic and you get the meds that you need and work. If they don't, keep pestering and we will all be here to cheer you on. The start of HG is soul destroying isn't it and I hate the thought of any woman sitting alone in the house dealing with the first weeks. We are all here, in my darkest moments around Christmas I googled terminations I was so low and so ill. I've felt very guilty about this (even though this pregnancy was an accident I still very much want this baby) but HG is so physically and mentally draining I just wanted it to end. I mentioned it on here and instead of getting judgemental and negative responses I got gentle support from women who knew what it felt like. I have two DS's and me getting HG again and the four hospital admissions has been very tough on them both, in fact DS2 is currently on the naughty stool for biting his brother I know its attention seeking because I've been having a bad day and he's bored but coping with HG and 2 children is not something I'd recommend to anyone! Hope the dr's visits yields some good results.

nitnat How long did HG go on for with your first? Yours is def stretching out isn't it? I fully agree with the body getting into the 'retching routine' and I'm sure some of my sickness is psychological as it happens in such a clockwork pattern! How is your heartburn? Mine is awful at the moment.

Caramel Your post advice for marylou was spot on. you should write a 'HG handbook'
lucinda Back in the online world again! Does it feel good? Hope you are ok.

Right, sorry everyone else but got to go and be stern mummy and release ds2 from the naught stool!

Good news Katy, keep us posted, all ready to join in with some lovely of the sparkling variety :)

Hello all! Sorry to hear some people still suffering and that there are new sufferers also. I found this thread when I was trawling the internet for information whilst in the full throttles of HG! How nice it was to find women who knew how I was feeling. I am currently 25 weeks into my 4th pregnancy. My previous 3 i suffered a bit of 'normal' nausea and vomitting (looking back each one was worse than the previous) but nothing that resulted in rapid weight loss or an inability to work or look after myself. Then this time I hit 6 weeks and started with violent vomitting. 10 - 15 times a day at worst. At best 2 or 3 vomits a day. I lost about 16lbs and had one hospital admission. Hospital staff were great. I was quickly rehydrated and given metoclopramide and cyclizine. Most of the GPs were understanding - there was only one who I spoke to about a sick note for work who mumbled that at 12 weeks it should all be resolving! I'm not sure that the meds worked and I never got offered ondasetron. I work in a hospital and when I did ward work I knew that ondasetron on the medical wards was last line therapy as an anti emetic mainly due to cost so never thought to ask for it! I have since found out that it is now considerably cheaper. Vomitting has now stopped (stopped at 16 weeks). Still feel nauseous which gets worse with tiredness. But I am able to eat and drink nearly most foods now. I had 2 months off work and fortunately have a very sympathetic and understanding manager. When I went back I did a phased return over 4 weeks which had been agreed to prior to me going back. I also got a reduced workload. I look at other peoples stories and realise how lucky I've been with docs and work. It's appalling that in the 21st century women are having to suffer like this. If this had been my first pregnancy I'm not sure I'd have done it again! I was talking to an ex colleague this week who suffered - she had her first baby a year ago. She didn't know if she would have anymore as she said she couldn't suffer like that again. But I guess another pregnancy could be different? Or if you've suffered once do you tend to suffer again? Oh and in my family I am the only one to have suffered with HG!! People also seem to think that you suffer more with a girl?? I'm carrying a boy! What are people's thoughts?

Thoughts and sympathies with all fellow sufferers!

Katystar - lucky you, not long to go until the lovely baby and the best toast you've had for 9 months!
lottie - glad your vomiting has stopped but the nausea isn't much easier is it. At least you can keep something down now.

It seems a bit random when and why you get HG. Some people say it's worse with girls but I had it with a boy too. Some have it in one pregnancy but not others, some people have it with all of them. I don't think anyone does much research into the causes which is part of the whole problem with bad treatment etc.
Dr's appointment went well. I was prescribed some stemetil, she was very sympathetic. It's so helpful to know that they will actually help me this time and if it doesn't work I was told to go back and they would try something else. Took one last night and promptly threw up once it had dissolved, but then felt a bit better. Then DS arrived home from grandmas and I discovered he'd been throwing up all day and to prove the point he was then sick all over his dad! So now I don't know whether it's a bug, HG or both. I feel less sick than I did yesterday morning, but is that the effects of the tablet or the stomach bug getting better. Then again, I can't stand the smell of the fridge or my shower gel etc etc which all seems a bit too familiar.

Hope everyone has a not too bad day today x

Hello, I was hospitalised for 6 weeks 3 years ago with HG. 7+5 with DC2 and feeling rotten and vomitting in morning and evening, nauseous all day. Only food that stays down is bread. GP has given me metoclopromide, and I had an accupuncture session yesterday. Anything worth a try in desperation. Can't stand to be around food, or prepare it or buy it, and it takes me ages to eat a piece of toast or drink a glass of water - trying desperatley to keep out of hospital - it is so soul destroying when it comes back again.

The nausea is much more manageable now than it was. Its definately worse with tiredness - feel better first thing and it gets worse as the day goes on. I said I didn't suffer as bad with previous pregnancies and thinking back I used to have regular reflexology - don't know if that made a difference. Didn't try any alternative therapies this time.
Just looked on the ch 4 embarrassing bodies website to see if they had info on HG. The only thing that came up was someone wanting a bum lift as her bum was really saggy after rapid weight loss with HG!!
Also just looking up how much the different anti emetics cost - Metoclopramide £1.01 for 28 pack, Cyclizine £7.41 for 100 tab pack and Ondansetron £66.85 for 30 tab pack!!!

BikeRunSki Oh, no, poor you that it is back again. It is not fair. If this is your second go, you probably have tried iced lollies, sips of flat coke, tiny sips of tepid water every few minutes, ice cubes, flat coke turned into ice cubes, jelly, Lucozade, IronBru, nibbles of crisps? Those were my staples.
Acupunture helped me wonderfully, I think helps everyone a little but it varies so much and is expensive; mine gave me funny little pills (I should have asked the name, never did find out what they were( that seemed to help. At least one woman on here has been helped greatly by Homeopathy, I didn't think of trying that, though I'd had after a miscarriage. Sending you much sympathy.
MaryLou I was thinking of you last night, wondering if you had Acupunture/Homeopathy too when last suffering, but I know how annoying it is, though, to have 'have you tried...' I do hope you get effective and sympathetic treatmnet at the doctors today. It sounded so awful yesterday, I think retching on an empty stomach is horrific, and at work, too.
Caramel I so agree, that was a wonderful concise piece of advice (no rhyme intended). It was such a good idea to take your lively toddler to make an impression. Cocoanuts Yours entertains herself, that shows good management on your part indeed, she sounds like an angel compared to my little horror at that age...
Grumblin I do remember your saying, round Christmas, after the dreadful shredded wheat episode, that you couldn't take any more, but you have taken rather more since, and I think you are stoicism itself.
I hope Angel who met Fluffy on the old thread tells us how she is getting on...
LA NitNat Caramel ElliiotsMum Rozzee Luce Anyone unnamed,through addled brain, how are you? theOnly* still I hope making sterling progress?
I hope some have avoided bile runs today>
re: heartburn sufferers, my sympathies, nothing shifted that for me for more than half an hour after the puking stopped. I do think a miserable bland diet lessened it slightly.
I heard the new baby next door today! You too soon, Katystar and congratulations for surviving such a horrible prolonged bout and such unsympathetic treatment...And you all have that to look forward to...(the end result,I mean, not the unsympathetic treatment).
NitNat I do hope no more stomach lining in bath? (cluck). Caramel outraged still at those comments form that GP...

LucindaE
xx

LucindaE
xx

Bah! Just chucked up a really nice bowl of soup. Cue change of lower garments as well, for the second time today . It was Tesco Finest Sri Lankan Chicken Soup. Think might have been a bit too spicy. Carried on eating the last few mouthfuls afterwards though as it was so nice .

Lucinda welcome back to the luxury of home internet access!

Grumblin I can also confess to feelings of hope that something might go wrong with the pg, during those awful early weeks. Hope calm has been restored with the DC's. Once again my hat is taken off to you! I have a sneaky feeling this might be the pattern until the end - vom not full on, thankfully, but annoyingly random and pesky, especially given the woeful state of pelvic floor.

Katystar . That is such great news a) on the not-vomiting-any-more front , b) the getting-to-see-your-new-LO front! Keep us informed!

Caramel that advice should be made into a sticky thread!

Marylou how are you feeling today? How was the Doc's?

Have a big day planned tomorrrow (7th anniversary). DC off to DGP's. Bit of shopping, tapas at a newly discovered restaurant, Kings Speech at the cinema, with ice cream and possibly popcorn too.

Sorry X-post with Marylou - forgot to refresh page. Glad you feel more listened-to at the Docs this time and have got some meds to try.

BikeRunSki (presume you are doing none of those activities at the moment ) how awful to be starting out on the HG road again, like Marylou, in the gruesome knowledge of what lies ahead.

Lottie glad the vom has gone - hope the nausea follows suit soon.

No I'm not doing any of those activities! But have managed toget into work (late) and am living by ice water machine!

BikeRunSki Sorry to say "have you tried" but could you stomach peanut butter on the toast? Loads of calories and the protein is supposed to be good for nausea. A few of us had a good run on peanut butter after Xmas!

Hi everyone! Friday at last, the weeks are dragging by at the moment and it feels like I'll be pregnant forever.

I am same as you Coconuts in that one of my coping techniques with DS is CBeebies . He watches far too much. But sometimes there's nothing else you can do. And Grumblin, DS went through a really naughty phase when I was at my sickest too that I'm sure was down to me being so unavailable and useless. I felt awful that I was to blame but he seems to be much better now he is getting more attention so I know he'll recover in the long run. And I cling to the hope he won't remember this and will have a sibling to share life with.

Katystar this time next week you'll have your baby in your arms and you'll be scoffing toast, champagne and probably any other food in sight. So happy for you and so looking forward to you coming back to less us all about life on the other side!

I'm glad the GP listened and is sympathetic Marylou, I bet that made you feel better right away even before the meds. Hope you just have a sickness bug and not HG

Lottie I had so many MWs, GPs and Consultants tell me I must have been carrying a girl last pregnancy because I was so ill. I was shocked when a boy popped out, so another here that proves it doesn't always mean girl. Also my mum has 3 sisters (9 children between them) and not one them had HG or even particularly bad MS. But weirdly my cousin is currently pregnant and has HG too. Strange it would only appear in our generation. Makes me suspicious about it being environmental as well as genetic.

nitnat what a waste of delicious soup Try the Sainsburys taste the difference Chicken Laksa next, not as spicy but just as yummy. Although does have rice in it so not for the fainthearted. Have a good day tomorrow celebrating your anniversary!

Lucinda hope you're enjoying the return of the internet and not having to traipse to the library to console us!

Everyone else...hope you've got good weekends planned and those working are taking the weekend to rest and recover a bit.

Hi caramel Apparently there is thought that Charlotte Bronte died from HG! Her death certificate says TB but in her diary prior to her death she wrote of 'sensations of perpetual nausea and ever-recurring faintness' and she also describes nights of vomitting with no reprieve. She died whilst 4 months pregnant and most biographers believe she died from dehydration and malnourishment! Hopefully, the medical profession has moved forward and recognises HG as real illness and maybe that's why more women are diagnosed? I'm sure there were lots of women who suffered in previous generations but were never taken seriously. Apparently its more common in the western world as well!

Interesting about relatives having HG. My mum had really bad morning sickness with 3 babies in her 20s (don't think it was quite up to HG level) but then 2 more babies in her 40s with no sickness at all. I wonder if it has anything to do with age as well?

Managed to eat a piece of toast, one biscuit and a pear today. Touch wood have not been sick but feel very sick, dizzy and tired as I have not drunk or slept much.

Sorry about the lunch nitnat. At least you had a bit left over afterwards.

lottie looks like price is why they avoid prescribing Odansetron. It's so annoying because we all pay more than enough tax to cover the costs! I wonder how much stemetil is, bet I've been given the cheapest (I'm not knocking them, just glad to have been given anything at the moment).